Just when I thought my blush collection was complete, enter the holiday-released Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Quad Ghost Palette (58 USD) and my heart started racing to 200 bpm, lol. Yes, that’s how excited I was the very first time I saw this gorgeous palette.
Hourglass Cosmetics released their Ghost Collection last holiday (2019), which included the new Ambient Lighting Edit Ghost Face Palette (80 USD) and this new Blush Quad Ghost. Of the two palettes, I was more drawn to this beautiful quad of blushes because each of the shades looks pretty not only upon first glance but also upon swatching them on my arms. The Ghost Full-Face Palette didn’t appeal to me much because I already have and still use the previous Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Volume 3 (reviewed HERE) which I adore. I try not to use it as much because it’s so pretty. Also, the nice thing about Hourglass products is that they’re really well-pigmented that you don’t need to use up as much color on the face, and even if you’ve used them several times, they still look good as new. Additionally, the packaging of their palettes is so luxurious and so elegant. The Ghost palettes are in a silver mirror-like compact with a translucent plastic packaging.
The shades of this quad blush are what Hourglass calls “hybrid” because they’re a mix of a highlighter shade and a vivid shade that seem to create a customized, unique, multidimensional, and soft-focus tone on the skin, in order to naturally enhance the curves of our cheekbones.
I really love the radiant finish of each shade in this Hourglass Ambient Lighting Ghost Blush Quad. They don’t look flat because they’re hybrid shades which really add depth and dimension to the cheeks. I also love that they’re all buildable and that they’re made of clean ingredients. Also, the whole product is cruelty-free. Just a few things that I seem to notice is how minimalist and sleek the compact looks, but it tends to attract fingerprints and lint. Also, the bottom of the compact is translucent yet it feels quite plasticky, which I’m not used to since most Hourglass palettes/compacts are metallic, shiny, and super luxe. However, the quality of each blush shade remains superior.
ย Do you have this in your collection? What are your favorite Hourglass products?
There are several restaurants I like to visit regularly close to where I live. One of them is a Middle Eastern restaurant located in an obscure street but the food there is a delight. For a long time, I’m a big fan of their amazing Kazandibi which I always order after a big serving of Izgara Kofte (Grilled Meat Balls). Kazandibi is a Turkish caramelized milk pudding dessert. A reminiscent of Crรจme Brรปlรฉe. It is so delicious and super addicting. The taste of burnt sugar added with the soft creamy texture of milk plus a hint of cinnamon is just so heavenly.
This Kazandibi recipe is inspired by that favorite Middle Eastern restaurant of mine, and though I will never be able to recreate their perfect Kazandibi dessert, at least I know that I can actually do it at home and hopefully master it as I keep practicing. To my Middle Eastern friends and readers, please be aware that this recipe is nowhere near perfect as what you guys have at home. Mine is definitely a beginner’s attempt, so feel free to give me your preparation tips and techniques.
There are different ways, measurements, and even ingredients on how to make Kazandibi. My recipe is somewhat tailored to my own personal preferences. Here’s how I made mine.
Ingredients
For the Pudding
4 & 1/2 cup Whole Milk (I use Lactaid because it’s Lactose-free) 1/2 cup All-Purpose Flour 1/2 cup Cornstarch 1 cup Sugar a pinch of Mastic (aromatic gum)
This season, there are several foundations that really impressed me. I’ve been loving them a lot and they’re definitely at the top of my holy grail list. You’ve probably heard about these foundations or own them since a lot of folks seem to really love them as well.
Ideally, for me, a foundation should be lightweight, non-sticky, has very good coverage, non-cakey, and should adhere to the skin for hours and hours, even if you sweat. It should have a good SPF number, but it should not oxidize. Yes, I’m quite picky that way, although that’s a lot to ask for a foundation. I also prefer foundations that don’t need to be applied with a primer, because there are days when I’m so in a hurry to go somewhere and applying primer is an extra step that I may not be able to afford putting on when I’m time-constrained.
Anyway, as much as I want that perfect foundation, there are only a few that I could count that seems to satisfy my criteria. Nowadays, I tend to use foundations that almost met and satisfy these criteria. They are almost, if not, perfect for me, or are the next best thing.
Charlotte Tilbury
Airbrush Flawless Longwear Foundation in 4 Neutral (44 USD) – This skincare-foundation is my most favorite from Charlotte Tilbury. It has a very pretty and elegant packaging and on my skin, this feels light. The coverage is full and it has a natural matte finish that doesn’t look dry or cakey. A little bit goes a long way with this and it lasts several hours on me. This blurs my pores, blemishes, and post-acne marks. Also, this evens my skintone well and it kind of makes me look glowy. I love that this doesn’t budge or slide on my oily skin, and it doesn’t transfer. I can wear this alone or with any primer.
Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder in 1 Fair (0.28 oz: 45 USD) – This very fine setting powder packed in a luxurious golden compact looks impeccably elegant. I love how natural this goes on the skin and it not only reduces shine and sets makeup/foundation, it doesn’t have any flashback and it can work as a standalone powder foundation as well. I love that this doesn’t cake and this does not settle on my pores. However, this powder tends to oxidize and it doesn’t have a good shade range (only three, so far), so, I suggest picking up a lighter shade than your normal tone. Overall, this product blends and applies on my skin and foundation seamlessly and it’s one of the most wonderful setting powders I’ve ever tried.
Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation in 2 Neutral (1.6 oz: 40 USD) – I didn’t realize how good this foundation was until I tried a sample of it. Texture-wise, this is perfect. I love how light and fluid this feel and this applies like a second skin on me. The finish is matte but not drying and this actually looks more natural. I would say that the coverage of this foundation is medium yet it’s good enough for me since it completely covers my sins and imperfections, lol. I also love that you can use this not only for the face, but also for the body, and it doesn’t slide nor cake for any skin type, not even for my oily skin. The packaging of this is cute too. Now, if only this has an added SPF.
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Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation in Light Medium 9 (1.18 oz: 68 USD) – An ultra-expensive foundation from PMG that does not disappoint. This truly is a very good foundation and is almost perfect in every way, with or without any use of a primer. The coverage of this can go from light to medium, and even to full, and the finish is very natural. It feels very light and fluid like the Dior Backstage Foundation above and is also very similar to the Chanel Vitalumiรจre Aqua and Perfection Lumiรจre Velvet Foundations. I love that this looks and feels like a second skin, so, this is very light. This does not settle on the pores and fine lines and looks very very natural. Still, I wish this has an SPF.
Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation SPF 30 in 220 Linen (1 oz: 47 USD) – An Allure Best of Beauty Winner, I feel like this could be the foundation I’ve been looking for. It seems to meet all my criteria and standards for a foundation, except that I couldn’t find the right shade match for me. Thank goodness I got a sample to try it first. Hopefully soon, I will be able to find the exact color for my skintone because this foundation is truly amazing. I love how you don’t need to put a lot of this and still has that perfect medium to full coverage with a natural finish on the skin. This feels fluid but not too fluid and not overly creamy either. Also, this covers imperfections very well and it can last for several hours without sliding, no matter what the humidity level and temperature may be, and it stays on even when you sweat. Something about this foundation reminded me of the Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation in terms of performance and lasting power.
Overall, I love love these foundations. They serve my needs at any activity level and they helped me put on my best face forward, rain or shine, sweat or dry, and whatever the situation may call.
Do you have any holy grail foundations? What are they? Have you tried these already? What do you think of them?
